ARCH 370:

Introduction to Architectural Studies

Fall 2012, Mondays 10-12

2 units

Douglas Noble, FAIA, Ph.D.

School of Architecture

University of Southern California


Introduction

Architecture 370, Introduction to Architectural Studies, provides a thorough overview of the content and value of architectural education. Students will learn about the various modes of architectural education, internship and practice. ARCH 370 introduces the broad range of opportunities, specializations, and related professions that an architectural education can enable. This course acts as a springboard for the four-year degree in Architectural Studies, a resource for professional growth in the Bachelor of Architecture five-year program, and an introduction to the profession of architecture for the non-major. No special background or skills are required that would place non-majors at a disadvantage.

With successful completion of this course, students will have been personally exposed to and investigated a variety of professional options within traditional architectural practice, within the development and construction industry and within a variety of associated professional fields. Successful professionals will share first-hand accounts of their unique careers that resulted from their interest in architecture. You will have the opportunity to hear what it takes to get there from here and to ask questions of a wide variety of leading professionals.

Some Examples of Questions Answered in Presentations and Discussions

• Can I still be an architect if I do not have special talents in design?

• Can I become an architect if I did not take architecture as an undergraduate?

• In what ways is architecture education different from other majors?

• What else can I do with my architecture degree if I choose not to be an architect?

• How do I get the most from my time in college?

• Should I go to graduate school? What are the “best” graduate schools for me?

• Besides designing buildings, how else can architects contribute to society and the future?

• How are architects engaging dramatic societal change?

Examples of Professional Explorations

• The Process and Opportunities in Creating Architecture

• Construction & Project Management, Building Contractor

• Entertainment Design & Creative Development, Art Director, Set Designer

• Real Estate & Development

• Urban Design, Planning, & Development

• Architectural Criticism, Journalism and Publishing

• Building Science / Technology

• Historic Preservation, Architectural History

• Landscape Architecture

• Architecture and Interiors

• IDP, Licensing & the Practice

• Specialty Design Areas:

Industrial and Product Design, Marine/Naval Architecture, Graphic Design,

Furniture Design, Fashion Design

• Civic and Professional Leadership


Evaluation

5% Participation in class discussions, response to readings

10% Quizzes

15% Mid-term Exam

30% Field Reports (3 reports at 10% each)

20% Final Report

25% Final Exam

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all classes, and attendance will follow the School of Architecture Attendance Policy.

Resources

The Architecture Guild provides a strong alumni support group tying the School of Architecture to related fields in the design, development and construction communities in Southern California and beyond. This organization has made a commitment to provide access to students who are interested in exploring specializations. A list of available professionals will be distributed in class.

Preliminary Schedule

The following schedule is intended as a guide for the structure of the course, but the exact topics each day will depend on the availability of the guest speakers. The schedule will be modified based on the availability of guest lecturers and field trip opportunities.

Week 1 Lecture 1: Course Overview, Field Reports, Douglas Noble, FAIA

Lecture 2: The Structure Of Architectural Education

Week 2 HOLIDAY

Week 3 Lecture 1: Sample Career Report Presentation

Week 4 Lecture 1: Architect as Developer

Lecture 2: Chet Widom, FAIA

Week 5 Lecture 1: Architectural Designer

Lecture 2: Project Management

Week 6 Lecture 1: Themed Environments

Lecture 2: Set Design

Week 7 Lecture 1: Building Forensics

Lecture 2: Graduate School

Week 8 Lecture 1: Managing Principals

Lecture 2: Midterm Exam

Week 9 Lecture 1: Multidisciplinary

Lecture 2: Modes of Practice in Architecture

Week 10 Lecture 1: Public Service / Civic

Lecture 2: Historic Preservation

Week 11 Lecture 1: Technology

Lecture 2: Teaching Architecture

Week 12 Lecture 1: Building Components

Lecture 2: Law

Week 13 Lecture 1: Research and Testing

Lecture 2: Field Trip

Week 14 Lecture 1: Small Firm

Lecture 2: IDP, Licensing

Week 15 Lecture 1: Urban Design

Lecture 2: Yacht Design

Week 16 Final Exam


Statement for Students with Disabilities

Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to my TA) as early in the semester as possible. DPS is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30AM-5PM, Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

Statement on Academic Integrity

USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. Scampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A:

http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/SCAMPUS/gov/

Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at:

http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/